Display package and method of manufacture



Dec. 30, 1969 I 3,486,615

DISPLAY PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Feb. 1; 1967 l. '5. DE WOSKIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 DISPLAY PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Feb; 1, 1967 Dec. 30, 1969 l. 5. DE WOSKIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 30, 1969 9. DE wosmu DISPLAY PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Feb. 1, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 h. \h Z? r 1 n I!!!IIIIIII I l lvm I.

1 Z m V v RN. RN M\ TQM \w. u, 3 7///A/////// //////////////////4P/ H :%.1,[ MN h? k M. Mk R W Af h v United States Patent US. Cl. 206-78 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display package made from an originally flat blank of relatively stiff foldable sheet material having a body in the form of a shallow box with an outwardly extending flange around the rim of the box and a window flap constituted by part of the blank folded over upon and sealed to the flange, with a hole through the flange and flap for hanging the package on a pin on a display rack, and a method of manufacturing such packages using jigs for forming the blanks into the boxes and sealing the flap.

Background of the invention The invention pertains to display packages, i.e., packages which have a window through which the contents of the package are visible. The invention pertains more particularly to display packages which are in the form of a box with a window, and involves a solution to the problem of providing packages of this class adapted to be formed from flat blanks at relatively high production rates, as distinguished from prior packages of this class made from pre-formed boxes.

Summary of the invention Briefly, a package of this invention is formed from a blank of relatively stiff foldable sheet material, the package having a rectangular bottom, side walls folded up from the bottom generally at right angles to the bottom on fold lines at the side margins of the bottom, and end walls folded up from the bottom generally at right angles to the bottom on fold lines at the end margins of the bottom. The bottom, side walls and end walls define a box receiving the contents of the package. Each side wall and each end wall has a flange folded outward therefrom on a fold line at its upper margin. A window flap constituted by an integral part of the blank on one of the flanges is folded over on a fold line at the outer margin of this flange and sealed to the flanges.

The blank is cut and scored to have a box-forming body portion and the flap, the body portion having a rectangular center panel which forms the bottom of the box, side and end panels which form the side and end walls of the box, the flanges being on the side and end panels.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan of a blank from which a display package of this invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective showing the FIG. 1 blank erected to form a box, but before folding over of a window flap;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing how a sheet of transparent plastic is applied to the box, after an article to be packaged has been placed in the box;

FIG. 4 (Sheet 1) is a perspective showing a completed package;

FIG. 5 is a vview showing a jig in which the package is formed, the jig being open;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the jig closed;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a series of closed jigs;

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FIG. 8 is a plan of another blank from which an alternative display package of this invention is made; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective of a package made from the FIG. 8 blank.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a fiat blank 1, made of paperboard, from which a package of this invention is made. This blank may be regarded as having a body portion 3 and a flap 5. It is cut and scored so that the body portion has a rectangular center panel 7, side panels 9 integrally hinged to the sides of the center panel at score lines 11, flange portions 13 integrally hinged to the side panels 9 on score lines 15, an end panel 17 integrally hinged to one end of the center panel at a score line 19, a flange portion 21 integrally hinged to the end panel 17 at a score line 23, a second end panel 25 integrally hinged to the other end of the center panel at a score line 27, and a flange portion 29 integrally hinged to the end panel 25 at a score line 31.

Side panels 9 are of equal width, relatively narrow, and extend the full length of the sides of the center panel 7. Flange portions 13 on the side panels are ofequ-al width, relatively narrow, and each projects at its ends beyond the respective side panel a distance equal to the width of the end panels 17 and 25. The width of the end panels 17 and 25 is the same as the width of the side panels, and the end panels extend the full width of the center panel. Flange portion 21 on end panel 17 has the same length as end panel 17 and a width corresponding to the width of flange portions 13. Flange portion 29 on end panel 25 is substantially wider than flange portions 13 and 21, and has an inner section 29a having a length equal to the width of center panel 7 and an outer section 29b having a length corresponding to the width of the center panel plus twice the width of a panel 9, so that the ends of section 29b extend beyond section 29a. The flap 5 is integrally hinged at one end to the outer margin of flange portion 29 at a score line 33. Its width is the same as the length of flange portion 29 and it has a length corresponding to the length of the center panel 7 plus the width of flange portion 29 plus the width of flange portion 21. The flap has a window opening 35 therein and constitutes, in effect, a picture frame. The length and width of this window opening correspond to the length and width of the center panel 7. The flange portion 29 has a central hole 37. The flap 5 has a corresponding hole 39 adapted to register with the hole 37 when the flap is folded over on line 33.

Referring next to FIG. 2, the body portion 3 of the blank 1 is shown in its erected condition, forming a shallow box designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 37. The box is formed by folding up side panels 9 on lines 11 and folding up end panels 17 and 25 on lines 19 and 27 to form the side walls and end walls of the box. Flange portions 13 are folded out from the side walls 9 on lines to form flanges extending out at right angles to the side walls, and flanges 21 and 29 are folded out from the end walls 17 and to form flanges extending out at right angles to the end walls. Center panel 7 forms the bottom of the box. As shown in FIG. 2, flap 5 is in an open position.

As shown in FIG. 3, with the box 37 held in its erected condition of FIG. 2, an article A to be packaged is placed in the box, and a sheet of transparent plastic material 41 is placed on top of the box overlying the flanges 13, 17 and 29, but not covering the hole 37 in flange 29. This sheet is shown as of indefinite length and having a width corresponding to the distance from the edge of end flange 21 to the hole 37, being positioned with one side edge of the sheet generally registering with the edge of flange 21 and the opposite side edge of the sheet adjacent the hole 37. The blank, when made of paperboard, has a plastic coating C on its face which is exposed to the plastic sheet, this coating being compatible with the plastic sheet for heat sealing of the plastic sheet to the blank.

After the article A has been placed in the box and the plastic sheet 41 applied over the box, the flap 5 is folded over on fold line 33 to overlie the plastic sheet, the margins of the plastic sheet thereby being sandwiched between the flanges 13, 21 and 29 and the margins of the flap, and the margins of the plastic sheet are then heatsealed to the flanges and the margins of the flap, and the plastic sheet is cut at the edges of flanges 13 to complete the package. The completed package is shown in FIG. 4, and comprises the rectangular bottom 7, side walls 9, end walls 17 and 25, flanges 13 on the side walls, flanges 21 and 29 on the end walls, transparent plastic sheet 41 overlying the flanges, and flap 5 folded over on the plastic sheet, the margins of the latter being sandwiched between and sealed to the flanges and the flap. When the flap 5 is folded over, hole 39 in the flap registers with hole 37 in end flange 29 to provide a hole in the flange at what constitutes the upper end of the package for conveniently hanging the package on a pin on a display rack. With the plastic sheet 41 sealed to the flanges 13, 21 and 29 the box is held in erected condition, with reinforcement by reason of the margins of the plastic sheet being sealed to the flap 5 as well as to the flanges. The margins of the plastic sheet are concealed by the flap 5, and the article A in the box is visible through the plastic sheet and the window opening in the flap, the latter being in the nature of a picture frame for the displayed article.

Packages as above described are adapted to be made using packaging apparatus and jigs such as shown in my prior U.S. Patent 3,030,752, issued Apr. 24, 1962, entitled Packaging. One of these jigs, designated J, is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and a series of jigs I is shown in FIG. 7. Basically, the jig comprises a flat rectangular metal base 51. On the base 51 toward one end thereof (which is referred to as its front end) is an open rectangular metal electrode generally designated 53. The sides of this electrode, each designated 55, are flush with the sides of the base. One end of the electrode, designated 57, is flush with the front end of the base. The other (rear) end of the electrode is designated 59. The electrode bounds a rectangular pocket or recess 61 closed at the bottom by the base 51. The sides of this pocket are generally equal in length to the sides of the rectangular center panel 7 of a blank 1. The ends of this pocket are generally equal in length to the ends of panel 7 of a blank 1. The depth of the pocket is generally equal to the width (height) of side panels 9 and end panels 17 and of a blank 1. The top surfaces of the ends and sides of electrode 53 are relatively broad flat surfaces and are flush with one another. A pin 63 of electrically nonconductive material projects up from the inner end member 59 of the electrode, being centrally located in relation to the length of member 59, and a pin 65 of electrically nonconductive material proiects up from the outer end member 57 of the electrode.

A fiat metal clamping plate 67 is pivoted at 69 in electrically nonconductive blocks 71 on the base 51. A torsion spring 73 is provided for biasing the plate 67 to swing upward away from the base. Plate 67 carries an upper electrode 75 of open rectangular form. The sides 77 of this electrode are flush with the sides of plate 67 and its outer end 79 is flush with the outer end of plate 67. The inner end of electrode 75 is designated 81. The sides and ends of electrode 75 are relatively thin, and their bottom edges are flush with one another. The upper electrode 75 is so dimensioned and positioned relative to the lower electrode 53 that when plate 67 is swung down against the bias of spring 73 to a horizontal position, the lower edges of sides 77 of upper electrode 75 extend along the top surfaces of the sides of the lower electrode 53, the lower edge of end member 79 of the upper electrode extends along the top surface of end member 57 of the lower electrode in side the pin 65, and the lower edge of end member 81 of the upper electrode extends along the top surface of end member 59 of the lower electrode inside of the pin 63 (see FIG. 6). Means indicated at 83 is provided for releasably holding the clamping plate 67 in its lowered horizontal clamping position of FIG. 6 against the bias of spring 73. Reference may be made to U.S. Patent 3,030,752 for full details.

As shown in FIG. 7 a series of jigs J is adapted to be advanced over a table such as shown at 21 in U.S. Patent 3,030,752 onto the bed B of an electronic heatsealing press having a pneumatically operated head H vertically movable toward and away from the bed. Reference may be made to U.S. Patent 3,030,752 for full details as to how the jigs are advanced. The jigs as they are moved toward the press, are initially open (i.e., the upper electrode is raised). A blank 1 is applied to the lower electrode 53 and erected to its FIG. 2 condition in the lower electrode. This is easily and quickly accomplished simply by pushing down the rectangular center panel 7 of the body portion 3 of the blank into the pocket or recess 61 in the lower electrode (the dimensions of this recess corresponding to the dimensions of the center panel 7). As the center panel 7 is pushed down in the recess, its side panels 9 fold up on lines 11 on the inside of sides 55 of the lower electrode, its end panel 17 folds up on line 19 on the inside of end 57 of the lower electrode, and its end panel 25 folds up on line 27 on the inside of end 59 of the lower electrode. Its side flanges 13 are folded down on lines 15 to overlie the sides 55 of the lower electrode, its flange 21 is folded down to overlie the end 57 of the lower electrode, and its flange 29 is folded down to overlie the end 59 of the lower electrode, with pin 63 extending through the hole 37 in flange 29. The flap 5 at this time lies open as shown in FIG. 5.

After erection of the blank 1 in the jig initially to form portion 3 of the blank into the box 37, the article A is placed in the box. Then, the transparent plastic material 41 is applied to the top of the box in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5. This material is supplied from a roll such as is indicated at R in U.S. Patent 3,030,752. Then the upper electrode 75 is closed and clamped on the lower electrode 53 as appears in FIG. 6. In closing the upper electrode, the flap 5 is folded over on top of the plastic sheet 41 and the box flanges 13, 21 and 29, the sheet 41 and the picture-frame flap 5 are clamped between the electrodes, the plastic sheet being sandwiched between the flanges and the flap. As the flap folds over, pin 63 enters the hole 39 in the flap.

A number of the closed jigs with the boxes therein is advanced into the heat-sealing press, the head H of which is raised at the time. Then, the head H is brought down upon the closed jigs in the press, and high frequency electrical energy is applied to the bed B and head H of the press, and consequently to electrodes 53 and 75 of the jigs in the press. This eifects electronic heat sealing of the plastic material to the flanges 13, 17 and 29 and to the flap 5. The jigs are maintained closed until they are moved off the bed of the press, allowing time for the fused plastic to solidify. Then the jigs are opened, the completed packages are fed out of the jigs in a continuous series, the plastic material still being continuous, and finally the individual packages are separated by severing the plastic material between packages.

Description of the alternate embodiment It is contemplated that the blank from which the package is formed may be made of a transparent heatsealable plastic material, instead of paperboard, in which case the flap is made without a window opening, and the plastic window 41 is eliminated. FIG. 8 shows such a blank, designated 1a, which is in all respects formed in the same shape as the blank 1 of FIG. 1 except that the flap, specially designated 5a, has no window opening. The blank 1a is formed into the package shown in FIG 4, except that plastic material 41 is omitted, the flap 5a being sealed all around its margin directly to the flanges 13, 21 and 29.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advan tageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A display package formed from a blank of relatively stiff foldable sheet material, said package having a rectangular bottom, walls integral with the bottom folded up from the bottom on fold lines at the four margins of the bottom, said bottom and walls forming a box receiving the contents of the package, flanges integral with said walls folded outward therefrom on fold lines at the upper margins of said walls, one of said flanges being wider than the other flanges, and a window flap constituted by an integral part of the blank on said one of said flanges folded over on a fold line at the outer margin of said one flange and sealed to all the flanges, said flap having a width corresponding generally to the length of said one flange and a length corresponding generally to the length of the rectangular bottom plus the width of said one flange plus the width of the opposite flange, and said one flange and the portion of said flap which overlies said one flange having registering openings providing a hole for hanging the package on a pin on a display rack.

2. A display package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flap has a window opening, and a sheet of transparent plastic material is provided spanning the flanges, the margins of said sheet being sealed to the flanges and the flap.

3. A display package as set forth in claim 2 wherein the blank is formed of paperboard having a plastic coating thereon for sealing of the margins of said plastic sheet to said flanges and flap.

4. A display package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blank is formed of transparent sheet plastic material.

5. A display package formed from a flat blank of relatively stiff foldable sheet material, said blank being cut and scored to have a box-forming body portion and a flap, said body portion having a rectangular center panel, side panels integrally hinged to the sides of the center panel on fold lines at the side edges of the center panel, flanges integrally hinged to the side panels on fold lines at the outer margins of the side panels, end panels integrally hinged to the ends of the center panel on fold lines at the ends of the center panel, flanges integrally hinged to the end panels on fold lines at the outer margins of the end panels, said side and end panels being of equal width, the flange on one of said end panels being wider than the other, said flap being integrally hinged to said wider flange on a fold line at the outer margin of said flange, said flap having a width corresponding to the width of said center panel plus twice the width of the side panel flanges and a length corresponding to the length of the center panel plus the width of the wider end panel flange and the width of the other end panel flange, said blank having its side and end panels folded up from the center panel to form a box and the side and end panel flanges extending outward from the side and end panels, said box receiving the contents of the package, said flap being folded over to overlie said flanges and being sealed thereto, said flap and said wider flange having registering openings therein.

6. A display package as set forth in claim 5 wherein said blank is formed of paperboard having a plastic coating thereon, said flap has a rectangular window,

opening having a length and width corresponding to the length and width of said center panel, and wherein a sheet of transparent plastic material is provided spanning the flanges, the margins of the sheet being sealed to the flanges and the flap.

7. A display package as set forth in claim 5 wherein said blank is formed of transparent sheet plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,072,247 1/1963 Fielding 206-45 .31 3,358,900 12/ 1967 Perdue 229-30 3,384,290 5/1968 Glover 20679 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

